The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

March 17, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 339 ports so far. One of the finest and most interesting pictures of this class we have ever shown. A hundred per cent satisfaction and people told us so as they left with smiles and red, tear-soaked eyes. One lady told me she cried until she had a headache. Court scene wonderful. Ran this with Semon in "The Fall Guy." Comedy did not come up to my expectations. Booked this from reports, as we do with all our programs. Used ones, a three, heralds and local paper. Attendance was good. Town of 305, drawing village and country. Admission 1030 and 10-35. Lindrud & Guettinger, Cochrane Theatre, Cochrane, Wisconsin. SIN FLOOD. (6,500 feet). Star cast. There was just a little something that prevented "Sin Flood" from being one of the really great productions of the year. Was it a too sudden transition from the usual type to a sublime feeling of brotherhood in the face of death or a too thin love story, or both? Still it was much and favorably commented upon and drew well. A credit to any house to run it. Al. C. Werner, Royal Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania. STRANGER'S BANQUET. (5,531 feet). Star cast. This all-star production resembles the Milky Way on a cloudy night — the continuity is a jumble of .misplaced titles and several different lines of dramatic action. If this is the best Neilan can do, I do not want another. Had more kicks, walk-outs and money refunds with this than, all told, for the past two years. Advertising slants are unlimited — but don't. Attendance was fair in town of 4,100, drawing all classes. Admission 10-25. L. A. Hoover, advertising manager for Edwin Bluck, owner. Gem Theatre, Durango, Colorado. Hodkinson CERTAIN RICH MAN. Star, Robert McKim. Gloomy and unwholesome. Good enough picture of its kind, but will only appeal to those people who come to be made miserable. Less of it. Hod, less of it. Town of 800, draw farmers and miscellaneous types. Admission 10-25. Al. C. Stewart, Empire Theatre, Waitsburg, Washington. HEADLESS HORSEMAN. (6,000 feet). Star, Will Rogers. This feature follows the story, Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow," close enough so that they recognize what it is; in fact, as close as they can adapt a story of "old New York" to satisfy the audience of today. It's a little slow compared with the high-power stu# the audiences seem to want, but Will Rogers as Ichabod Crane pleased our audiences much more than I thought he would when the lights went down at 7:30. We are glad that we played it; told them through the papers that they had seen bigger but not any better. It is worth playing in any house. Arthur B. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Indiana. NO TRESPASSING. (6,900 feet). Star, Irene Castle. A slow moving picture that puts people to sleep watching it. Used regular advertising, had poor attendance. Chas. Martin, Family Theatre, Mt. Morris, New York. RIP VAN WINKLE. (7,000 feet). Star, Joseph Jefferson, Jr. A dandy. The humor is good. Much credit due the titler. The schools co-operated. Hope this picture survives as a classic as I want to bring it back here a few years later for the next batch of school kids. Announced it on monthly program, used slide, ones and letter to superintendents of neighboring schools. Had good attendance. Town of 300, draw farmers. Usual admission 15-25, occasionally 2030. E. L. Partridge, Ryan Theatre, Kinsman, Ohio. Metro ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT. (6,265 feet). Star cast, including Lon Mr. Werner Helps "Theatre closed a week. When open will send reports regular. I read everything in Straight From the Shoulder and think it about the best I've ever readi Regards to Van. F. P. Werner, Queen Theatre, Trinity, Texas." These reports are good because Mr. Werner and other honest exhibitors contribute them. Chaney. One of the best sea stories I have ever played. Pleased a hundred per cent. Boost it; it will stand all the boosting you give it. Used lobby and newspaper for fair attendance. Mixed small town draw. Admission 10-30. O. W. Harris, St. Denis Theatre, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. MATCH BREAKER. (6,000 feet). Star, Viola Dana. Not a big picture, but good entertainment. Used threes, ones, stills, heralds, newspaper. Admission 15-35. Town of 400, small town, no country. R. N. Rounds, Scenic Theatre, Kadoka, South Dakota. TRIFLING WOMEN. (9,000 feet). Rex Ingram production, all star. Boost this and advertise it big. Everything a Special should be ! Navarro, Barbara La Marr wonderful. Used ones, threes, six, photo, newspaper, twenty-four, stunts. Patronage high class. Attendance fair. Jake Jones, Cozy Theatre, Shawnee, Oklahoma. TURN TO THE RIGHT. (8,000 feet). Rex Ingram production, with Jack Mulhall. A very good picture; pleased all. The best Rex Ingram picture I ever ran. Attendance good, of small town type. W. M. Venturo, New Mill Theatre, Eleele, Hawaii. Paramount ACROSS THE CONTINENT. (5,481 feet). Star, Wallace Reid, cast includes Theo. Roberts. A good Reid picture. Roberts is a wonderful "old man." Used slide, one sheet, llxl4s, to get good attendance of mixed type. D. D. Purcell, Muse-U Theatre, Cortez, Colorado. ACROSS THE CONTINENT. (5,481 feet). Star, Wallace Reid, cast includes Theo. Roberts. A wonderful picture. You never go wrong when you get a Reid production full of thrills. You can rely on Paramount for reasonable prices and good shows for small towns. Used threes and photos to pull good attendance, drawing small town mixed types. W. H. Sebastian, Royal Theatre, West Liberty, Kentucky. ALWAYS AUDACIOUS. (6,000 feet). Star, Wallace Reid. Holds one's interest throughout. Very good program picture. Advertised with ones, heralds, photos, for good attendance. Harry Waffle, Lyric Theatre, Mcintosh, South Dakota. AFTER THE SHOW. (5,884 feet). Featured cast. A different picture, but a dandy. Used one sheet and 11 x 14s, appealing to small town mixed class, had good attendance. D. D. Purcell, Muse-U Theatre, Cortez, Colorado. BOUGHT AND PAID FOR. (5,601 feet). Stars, Agnes Ayres, Jack Holt. This_ met with the approval of a fair sized audience and I consider it worth showing. My advertising slant was to lay stress on popularity of the play. Attendance fair. Town of 3,000, typical small town without foreigners. Admission 15-20. A. La Valla, Community Theatre, Bethel, Connecticut. BURNING SANDS. (6,909 feet). Stars, Milton Sills, Wanda Hawley. Not a "Sheik" picture. Only a fair program. Too many subtitles almost spoiled it. Speedy projection and heavy music will put it over. My advertising slants were the title and story. Attendance average. Town of 5,000, all nationalities. Admission 10-25. L. A. Hoover, Gem Theatre, Durango, Colorado. CAPPY RICKS. (5,962 feet). Star, Thomas Meighan. This star is always good. A very good picture. Advertised with photos, slide, ones, to mixed type, for poor attendance (radio concert was on, also heavy snow storm). D. D. Purcell, Muse-U Theatre, Cortez, Colorado. DICTATOR. (5,221 feet). Star, Wallace Reid. Nothing but good words for this. Went over fine. Kept audience laughing and they all said they surely enjoyed it. Used regular advertising for good attendance. Town of 7,000, draw general class. Admission 10-25-35-40. Jno. W. Creamer, Strand Theatre, Chillicothe, Missouri. FACE IN THE FOG. (5,569 feet). A well acted and produced picture. Moderately entertaining; not worth the price paid. Used usual advertising to neighborhood draw, for poor attendance. J. A. Emory, Star Theatre, Bar Harbor, Maine. FOOL'S PARADISE. (8,000 feet). Star, Dorothy Dalton. One of the best Paramount ever made. You won't go wrong on this one. Advertise heavy, advance your prices, the picture will stand all you can give it. Used newspaper, three and two ones for good attendance. Town of 800 white, 1,200 colored, draw all sorts. Admission 10-20. H. S. Miller, Liberty Theatre, Montezuma, Georgia. FOOTLIGHTS. (7,978 feet). Star, Elsie Ferguson. A good picture; many favorable remarks on it. It was the first picture we had played with Elsie Ferguson in it, and she went over big. Attendance was the better class. Thos. L. Haynes, Town Hall, Old Lyme, Connecticut. FULL HOUSE. (4,000 feet). Star, Bryant Washburn. A good program picture, but like many of their pictures, too darned high price for an exhibitor in small town to make money. Used one, three, six, slide, 11x14, for good attendance. Town of 1,100, draw general class. Admission 10-20. T. J. Hickes, Liberty Theatre, Saxton, Pennsylvania. GREEN TEMPTATION. (5,000 feet). Star, Betty Compson. Star is popular here and her support in this picture was all that could be desired. Title has good drawing power. People were curious to know what the "temptation" was. Used slide, billboards to pull good attendance. Town of 800, country patronage. Admission varies. Guy C. Sawyer, Town Hall, Chester, Vermont. LANE THAT HAD NO TURNING. (4,893 feet). A very good program picture. However, there is a hunchback character in it that is repulsive. Scenes of this nature seem to cause a creepy feeling in women and children. Advertised with ones, threes, sixes, slide. Attendance, poor. Town of 4,200, draw neighborhood class. Admission, 10-22. W. E. Elkin, Temple Theatre, Aberdeen, Mississippi. MAN FROM HOME. (6,895 feet). Star, James Kirkwood. A fine production, filmed among the beauty spots of Italy. One objection— there is an unnecessary number of subtitles. Advertised usual ways. Attendance good. Town of 7,000, draw general type. Admission 10-25-35. Jno. W. Creamer, Strand Theatre, Chillicothe, Missouri. MANSLAUGHTER. (9,061 feet). Star, Thomas Meighan. Very good picture. Advertised with newspaper and billboard. S. R. Peake, Pastime Theatre, Maquoketa, Iowa.